40 Reasons We Love You!

Happy 40th Birthday, Ryan! Here are 40 reasons why we all love you:

1. OCD, it might run in the family. As well as rugged good looks, quick wit and sarcastic tendencies. (Nathan)  
2. He is a loving and attentive father. (Debbie) 
3. I love how Ryan always says that he is ‘fabulous’. (Karen) 
4. Talking with Ryan is fun and easy. (Cassie) 
5. He supports our running habit, even if “nobody is chasing us.” (Debbie) 
6. Uncle Ryan’s dance moves. (Jelaire) 
7. What I like about Ryan is his determination to get what he wants. He sets goals and achieves them too. A great example for all! I also like how he loves you and the kids. (Cristina) 
8. Ryan is a doting father. Every time I hear one of the girls call for him he responds with patience, sweetness, and a kind voice. (Todd and Suzi) 
9. I love my little brother but the most fun thing I remember is when he was little and lived in Georgia, he decided to write each number side by side from 1 to whatever, he filled up three notebook pages front to back! (Ruth) 
10. One of my favorite memories is coming home and finding Ryan in his room with a trash bag full of popcorn. Also, his drive to become a champion putt-putt golfer. (Nathan) 
11. In many ways, Ryan reminds me of Dad. He has a wonderful work ethic with a great sense of humor. That's a winning combination. (Beverly) 
12. I appreciate Ryan’s slightly wicked sense of humor. For example, naming his black cat Token. (Karen) 
13. Ryan dunks with authority, bakes cookies and can whip up a trademark infringement lawsuit better than any lawyer I know. (Jamie Johnson) 
14. I was impressed with Ryan the first day I met him. Over the years that he has been in our family one cannot help but notice his sense of humor; he simply cannot resist to tease or make a wise crack if the opportunity presents itself. We love Ryan for his commitment to the gospel and his leadership in his home. Most of all we love Ryan because of his love and respect for Helen. (Calvin) 
15. You don’t say much. I like you! (Helen) 
16. My dad loves me. (Emily) 
17. Da-Da!! (Avery) 
18. My favorite thing about uncle Ryan is his Marvin the Martian imitation. (Peter) 
19. He makes me laugh. (Debbie) 
20. I love how Ryan can make Helen crack up. Once I got a butt-dial from Helen’s phone and I couldn’t understand what Ryan was saying, but Helen was laughing hysterically. (Karen) 
21. When I came home from my mission I was very impressed with Ryan. He had changed quite a bit. He was focused and disciplined with goals and objectives. He had started down the path to great achievement. He went on to serve a faithful mission, attend college and law school and marry a wonderful woman with whom he has established a beautiful family. At 40 he appears to be well on his way to achieving the most wonderful of all goals, eternal marriage and a celestial family. (Nathan) 
22. Ryan is not only HUGE in stature but has a HUGE caring heart and a HUGE sense of humor. Welcome to middle age, Ryan! (Whitney) 
23. Hard to believe it's been over 18 years since Ryan and I became the beneficiaries of the Riviera roommate roulette in Provo (and of so many other good friends: Jamie, Whit, Craig, Jim Moss, Mike Bean, the Matts, Josh Pratt)... We've discussed politics, religion, life, death--often until late hours of the night, and often interspersed with excessive levity and obnoxiousness (mostly on my part). I'm a better person for knowing you, Oh Mighty Riana! And I think we all provided needed friendship to each other during crucial life periods for all of us. Here's to another great 40, Ry! May you still be dunking 40 years from now with some future version of your always-groovy goggles. Much success and love to you and your beautiful family! (Todd C.) 
24. When you and Helen first started dating, I was impressed by the type of gifts you sent Helen for Christmas. She had apparently told you that she was totally out of money, but she hadn't told her parents! Among the several gifts you sent was a generous gift certificate for the local grocery store. I felt then that someone who cared that much about her well-being would make a good companion. And you have proven that impression to be accurate. (Marie) 
25. I was also impressed by the loving care you gave Emily when you two first welcomed her into your home. I knew then you would be a loving and protective father. (Marie) 
26. Through the years I have been impressed by your support for the things Helen loves to do, such as volleyball and cousin day. (Marie) 
27. My favorite memories of Ryan were in the old Ohio house. I remember how he would talk in his Grandma Cherry voice and say funny things that she would say. (Neil W.)
28. I remember how he would do a great impression of Kermit the Frog singing the Songs about Rainbows song. (Neil W.)
29. I remember him doing grandma's voice too and letting the conversation he had with grandma out of the bag at the family reunion where the rest of the family almost died of shock. (Laura W.) 
30. I also remember him writing to me on his mission and sending a card of the Seattle Temple with his address on it with a picture of him sending a "hug" (standing in some trees with arms wide open) I kept those for years. He sure is and always was a great uncle. (Laura W.)
31. There’s nothing that I don’t like about Ryan. (Seth)
32. Ryan, you brought the level of sarcasm in the Hjorth family to a whole new level! We love you! (Tim and Jenn)
33. I love that you continually do our laundry. (Helen)
34. I admire your drive to succeed at work. I appreciate all the work you do to support us. (Helen)
35. I love how nurturing you are to our girls. I know they are safe and cared for when I am away. (Helen)
36. I appreciate your willingness to support Hjorth family functions, volleyball weekends, running with my sisters, and other girls outings that give my life balance. (Helen)
37. I love spending time with you. You are fun, easy to be around, and make me laugh! (Helen) 
38. Daddy tells me stories at night. (Emily) 
39. You are full of integrity. People quickly learn you can be trusted. (Helen) 
40. I know I can trust you with my heart. I love you. (Helen)